2025
Last year Missouri citizens voted to pass an initiative that amended the state constitution, inserting in it a right to abortion.
On May 14, 2025, the state legislature passed a resolution that seeks to place commonsense health and safety regulations on abortion as well as protections for minors with parent’s right to know guidelines. The language also specifically allows for women to access the necessary care in cases of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
The resolution has been sent to the Secretary of State. If the governor does not object, this proposed language is expected to appear on the ballot for the November 2026 general election.
While not banning abortion, the proposed resolution would permit abortions in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest. However, there would be a 12-week limit for abortions performed because of rape or incest. No public funding for abortion would be permitted except in cases of medical emergency, rape, incest, or otherwise authorized by law. Except for emergency circumstances, the voluntary and informed consent of the woman would need to be obtained. Fetal organ harvesting after an abortion would not be permitted, nor would gender transition drugs and surgeries for those under 18 years of age.
This is an opportunity to add health and safety protections for mothers and their preborn children back into the state constitution.
2024
Initially several possible ballot initiatives were introduced to amend the state constitution for the purpose of establishing a broad right to abortion, but the single version eventually settled on would establish a right to unregulated abortions, remove regulations on abortion that were currently in law, and after viability allow for broad exceptions for the life or health of the woman. On November 5, 2024, the voters of Missouri passed Amendment 3 with 52% approval.
Governor Michael Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson, the Bishops of Missouri and many others pro-lifers highlighted the extreme nature of the initiative, asking people to pray and act! The passage of this amendment will likely bring many lawsuits, with abortion providers challenging a number of current state laws, including the state’s abortion ban that allows abortions only in cases of medical emergencies.
Inserting a right to abortion in a state constitution is not the end of the action being taken by abortion activists. See the article in The Federalist about how far abortion proponents want to go.
